A brief History of Environmental Science

1. A brief History of Environmental Science

2. Major Eras of US Environmental History • Tribal Era (pre-1600) • Native American occupied North America • Hunter-gatherers • Low impact

3. Major Eras of US Environmental History • Frontier Era (1607-1890) • European settlers spread • Cleared forests for cropland and settlements • Displaced natives • Public lands sold cheaply to encourage settlement • Frontier environmental worldview • Wilderness should be conquered and managed for human use

4. Frontier Era • Natural Resources (land, timber soil, water) seemed inexhaustible • Widespread Environmental Destruction 1600 1700 1900 1800 Dominated by Frontier Attitude Establishment of Jamestown, VA

5. Major Eras of US Environmental History • Early Conservation Era (1832-1870) • Resource depletion alarming • Some unspoiled wilderness on public lands should be protected for future generations

6. 1750 1800 1900 1850 Early Conservation Era • 19th century- US Naturalists voiced concerns about natural resources • Audubon- painting increased interest in environment • Thoreau- naturalist author on simplifying life • Marsh- wrote Man and Nature arguing the need for conservation John James Audobon (1785-1851) Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882)

7. Major Eras of US Environmental History • Post-Frontier Era (1870-present) • Increased role of federal government and private citizens in resource conservation, public health, and environmental protection • Preservationist movement – led by John Muir (1890s) • Proposed National Parks system • Biocentric Preservationist – protect nature because all life deserves respect • Golden Age of Conservation – led by Theodor Roosevelt (1901-1909) • National Wildlife Refuges and more National Forests • Utilitarian Conservationist – value natural resources for their usefulness

8. Environmental Milestones • General Revision Act • Gave President authority to establish forest reserves • Presidents Harrison, Cleveland, Roosevelt put 17.4 million hectares into reserve • Roosevelt reserved additional 6.5 million hectares before signing bill preventing further forest reservation 1875 1900 1850 1875 American Forestry Assoc. Formed 1890 Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks Established 1891 General Revision Act

9. Environmental Milestones • Antiquities Act • Allows president to set aside sites of scientific or historical importance (monuments) • Civilian Conservation Corps • Part of FDR’s New Deal - Employed 2.5 million men to plant trees, create trails, build dams, and other activities to protect natural resources • American Dust Bowl (1930s droughts) • Basis for Soil Conservation Service 1925 1950 1900 1933 CCC 1935 Creation of Soil Conservation Service 1906 Antiquities Act 1916 National Park Service Created

10. Environmental Milestones • 20th Century Naturalists • Aldo Leopold - Author (A Sand Country Almanac) • Wallace Stegner - Author (“Wilderness Essay”) • Rachel Carson - Author (Silent Spring) • Heightened awareness of DDT and pesticides • Inspired the Environmental Movement 1900 1925 1975 1950 Aldo Leopold (1886-1948) Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

11. Environmental Decade • April 22, 1970 – first Earth Day • 1970 Formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • 1973 - Endangered Species Act • Strengthened role of federal government in protecting species and habitats • Many environmental laws passed